I think the boxster/cayman platform is great but I find the M3 far more enjoyable to drive. I'm not sure sure how you arrived at this conclusion but it seems over the top and unfounded to me... And I own both cars.

I owned a 987.1 cayman S. I also owned a z4m coupe which was one of the most fun to drive BMWS but still didnt match the cayman S and the new cayman S is much better than them all.

America's best handling car under 100k. Boxster was #1. M3 didn't even rank top 3.

Cayman/boxster have so much more feel, balance and poise. They truly make the m3 feel like a small SUV I'm comparison to their nimble go kart type drive.

The m3 is great and I've owned more m3s and m cars than 99% of this forum. But it's competition is close within its segment and there are many many cars that are all around better performers than it. The boxster and cayman platforms are simply better in terms of anything performance/handling/feel no ifs, ands or buts about it.

Cayman/boxster have so much more feel, balance and poise. They truly make the m3 feel like a small SUV I'm comparison to their nimble go kart type drive.

The m3 is great and I've owned more m3s and m cars than 99% of this forum. But it's competition is close within its segment and there are many many cars that are all around better performers than it. The boxster and cayman platforms are simply better in terms of anything performance/handling/feel no ifs, ands or buts about it.

I've been driving the Boxster S a lot lately, and am very impressed. If I had only one car, the m3 is great- but for a second car the Boxster is special. I still plan to own an e90 m3 sometime in the farther future.

Performance wise it seems to have more torque earlier than the m3, it's not quite the high revver the m3 is, but the flat 6 is very exciting regardless.

Like the m3, everything is super responsive from throttle to steering input, perhaps even more so. I don't have sports chrono with my pdk but I plan to retrofit, I think it will help in shifting aggression as the pdk feels softer than the DCT in M mode.

But I know the Boxster sometimes gets less attention vs the 911 and Cayman, but I believe it is the best value for dollar Porsche - you get practically the same car as the Cayman but with a convertable roof, for less!

"If we had to choose one car to live with, the M3 would be a strong favorite"

About sums it up for me. No doubt I enjoyed the Cayman S at the track more, but the M3 had it all around (I drove a ZHP sedan, now have an e90 M3 sedan so what do I know? ).

The latest Boxter's are stunners too. Have a few at work and they are simply gorgeous.

I drove a full bolt on e46 sedan too (OEM zhp bodykit, PSS9, everything I wanted done to her really the list goes on) and now Im in an e90. My oh my do I miss the raw feel of the e46. I will always be in love it was so hard to sell her but I had to move on

I drove a full bolt on e46 sedan too (OEM zhp bodykit, PSS9, everything I wanted done to her really the list goes on) and now Im in an e90. My oh my do I miss the raw feel of the e46. I will always be in love it was so hard to sell her but I had to move on

Nice color choice! I have much respect for the boxster/cayman and in many ways believe it to be superior to the 911

In the past, based on layout maybe, though the GT3 was so dialed in you'd never find anyone to say they were better than a GTx car. But with the 991 being basically a mid engined car, that is no longer the case.

I'd love to have a 991 911 Carrera S. I think performance wise that car really takes it to another level.

But, my Boxster S with PDK is super satisfying and in the $30k's, A decent used 991 S is still near $90-100k. That's a huge difference in price, and I still think you get 90% of that "Porsche" experience with the Boxster.

The Boxster is so good, that really the only car that still tempts me in the back of my mind once in a while is the E90 M3 with DCT.

I wish the MPG was better on the M3 so I'd get rid of my Daily driver GTI for it, but unfortunately that would sting! For the amount I drive, it's best cars like that stay as the second car and something more economical as my main vehicle.

s2000 is not on the same level as a PDK Boxster S - and in my opinion the Boxster S as a sports car is a notch above the M3. This is from extensively having driven both and pushed them.

As a daily driver though, the M3 is a bit more practical aside from the MPG. Both do have a lot of similarities going for them, dual clutch transmissions (or manual), NA engines, wonderful exhaust note, instant throttle response, tight steering and handling, etc.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmk08

I always wondered who all these guys were who would buy a boxster or an s2000. I guess this is the forum to find those ppl. Lol.

s2000 is not on the same level as a PDK Boxster S - and in my opinion the Boxster S as a sports car is a notch above the M3. This is from extensively having driven both and pushed them.

As a daily driver though, the M3 is a bit more practical aside from the MPG. Both do have a lot of similarities going for them, dual clutch transmissions (or manual), NA engines, wonderful exhaust note, instant throttle response, tight steering and handling, etc.

They are the same in the little roadster thing. I associate little roadsters with girl cars. Don't know why I always have.

well I haven't driven 987 so I can't comment.
I did drive 981 Cayman and I was blown. the car is wrapping around your body and the engine growls right behind your head. My m3 is staying with me but I would love to add 981 cayman s to my garage. It was a definitely different nice feeling from the m3. This is also coming from a former z4mc owner. Another level from z4mc.